49ers’ Rachal, Spencer stay positive from bench

One of coach Jim Harbaugh’s favorite expressions seems appropriate for his team this season. At 7-1, only the unbeaten Packers have it any better.

But not all 53 members of the team are riding quite so high in what promises to be a memorable year.

As the 49ers have been winning, right guard Chilo Rachal and cornerback Shawntae Spencer have been sitting.

And the bench is unfamiliar territory for both players.

Spencer, 29, was one of six 49ers to make all 32 starts the past two seasons while Rachal’s 29 starts in 2009 and 2010 were the second-most by a San Francisco offensive lineman.

This season, however, Spencer has been limited by hamstring and toe injuries which have pushed him down the depth chart. Last week, Spencer was healthy, but he was inactive in a 19-11 win over the Redskins. It was the first time in his eight-year, 72-start career that he was inactive when he was healthy enough to play.

On Thursday, Spencer, who has three tackles in limited action, said he’s sought out counsel from his former teammates in the secondary, cornerback Nate Clements and safety Michael Lewis, this season. Both Clements, with the Bengals, and Lewis, who is retired, dealt with similar demotions during their careers.

“It’s a different spot for me,” Spencer said. “I’ve never not been on the field at any time during my career, but it happens. I’ve seen it happen to a lot of friends of mine, guys I’ve played with. I lean on them a lot … So, it’s pretty much what you make of it – your attitude and how you approach it.”

For his part, Rachal started the first three games, but was benched after a forgettable first-half performance in a Week 3 win against the Bengals. Adam Snyder has started the past five games and the Niners have averaged 177.4 rushing yards a game in those contests. San Francisco averaged 67.7 rushing yards in its first three games.

Rachal, 26, who started 37 of the 49ers’ 40 games prior to his demotion, said he’s adjusted to his new role while remaining determined to improve.

“It’s not really hard,” Rachal said. “I’m a team player. I can control what I can control. Obviously our team is moving in the right direction and anything I can do to help contribute to that – me playing my role, whatever my role is, that’s what I’ll do.”

This week, Harbaugh termed both Spencer and Rachal “team guys.” And based on their comments Thursday, it doesn’t seem as if either player threatens to disrupt a harmonious locker room.

Not that it’s been easy for Spencer, San Francisco’s second-round pick in the 2004 draft, to watch as the Niners finally experience success. In Spencer’s first seven seasons, the Niners managed more than seven wins once, finishing 8-8 in 2009.

“I try to just look at it as far as the guys who have been here through the 2-14, 4-12, 5-11 – so on and so forth,” Spencer said. “It’s good to see them experience a winning atmosphere. So that’s how I take it.”

The No. 39 overall pick in the 2008 draft, Rachal appeared to be on the cusp of a breakout season after losing about 30 pounds in the offseason and earning raves from Harbaugh during training camp.

Now watching from the sideline for the first time since the start of his rookie season, Rachal said he’s continuing to work on his technique while picking the brains of Snyder and offensive line coaches Mike Solari and Tim Drevno.

In a 25-19 win over Detroit on Oct. 16, Rachal played most of the fourth quarter after Snyder exited with a shoulder stinger. Rachal played well while often lining up against All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

“The learning never stops for me,” Rachal said. “I’m constantly getting better. I’m a competitor and I’m going to continue to work hard until my number gets called again.”